M4.8 Earthquake 87 km SW of Altata, Mexico — July 16, 2026
2026-07-16 07:28:59 UTC (3 hours ago) · approx. 12:28 AM UTC-7 local
On July 16, 2026 at 07:28 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km SW of Altata, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 24.0014°, -108.4497°. This earthquake was detected by 25 seismic stations with limited location accuracy due to sparse station coverage and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-108.4497°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Altata, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 87 km SW of Altata, Mexico on July 16, 2026 at 07:28 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 24.0014°, -108.4497°, which is 87 km SW of Altata, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t0x1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 16, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 87 km SW of Altata, Mexico — July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t0x1/